The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-10-30

How a Constituent OF His Over~hot the
Mark Ordering "a Dinner.

w" l'hh. OtN. 81 ne Htt Nhi0
ii. Carpenter was very fond Of good
stories and told them excellently lie
took great delight in relating those that
touched upon the experiences Of the
unsophisticated. especially persons of this
class who went 10 Washington intent
upon seeing the town or doing.
On one occasion friend and eonstitu.
emf from one Of the country districts in
Wisconsin went 10 pass "A portion Of the
winter in Washington. In some of their
business transactions it had come in Mr..
Carpenter way 10 do the man a service
which resulted in decided financial adj
vantage TO him
When he arrived in Washington he lost
no time in paying his respects 70 the sen
atOr. extending his most hearty thanks for
the assistance rendered. and Offering any
fee that Mr. Carpenter might name.
With his characteristic generosity the
senator declined any compensation. in
sisting that the act was merely a friendly
courtesy and one for which he would ac-
cept no consideration
The man urged the point. declaring that
he would never be satisfied until he had
celed his obligation. and finally, when
everything else had been refused eX-
claimed, half in veXation.
"Wel, | suppose that at least you will
not refuse 10 dine with me.
Certainly not, ~ said the senator. II
will give you the very first evening that
| am not engaged.
4 few nights later they met at Welck-
er's with couple of the senator's friends.
When they were seated at table the
stranger, after looking over the bill OF
fare, passed 10 across to Mr.. Carpenter
with the remark.
Here. senator, ! think You had better
manage this Ordering dinners is a little
out of my line. and l think you can Tx
the thing mp in style
Mr. Carpenter, I'M relating the incident,
said. II took the bill of fare. as he re-
quested. and ordered dinner that seemed
amply sufficient for party of four per
sons. When had finished, | handed it
back TO him, saying There, | guess that
will do
The man looked indignant
We'll really, senator, he said, 'you
must excuse me. but didn't invite you
here TO give You starvation diet intend
TO have dinner, not "a little snack |
think that will bear adding 10 little.
He evidently thought said the
senator, that was ordering with view
to "A fair degree of economy, for he was a
man of rather small means as / very well
knew, and he showed some annoyance at
what he fancied to be regard for his cir
cumstances. ! told him to go ahead, and
he did The waiter brought in dishes
until our table was so full that il would
hold no more. Then a side table was drawn
up and that also was filed, aud
several dishes remained on the sideboard
untouched All Of the rest of the party
were veterans and saw clearly what the
man was doing We therefore peremp-
torily insisted that he make no further
order for wine, feeling satisfied that he
would have quite enough Of II in the other
portion of the dinner How We struggled
10 taste through that meal / could never
tell au Some Of the covers were not
even removed and the host himself, with
his robust western appetite. at last began
TO show signs of Weakening For four
long hours wc sat there, and three more
quietly amused guests 10 would be hard
10 find. AZ lest we gave 10 up and our
host called for the check. My order had
been for 70 dinner that would cost about
$l2 10 SO Even though we had declined
more wine We waited with some curiosity
90 know what the amount of the check
would De- There was pcrceptaic plllor
about the mans mouth when bee glanced
down the long column aud nt the footing
below saw from his manner and eN
preston that he had not money enough
with him TO pay 10. so gave my card 10
the superintendent. who bad looked in
several times curing the meal, and who
evidently cumprehended the situation and
was enjoying the joke The man was
completely overwhelmed. but made dies
peratc effort Co appear cheerful le called
40 ms office next day. paid the bin and
remarked that bee guessed hc knew more
about lumber than he did about dining a
Ia carte The bin was S6i 80
EDWARD WILLS BiAKfLEY.